Enugu being the only state in the South East geo-political zone and among the six states in Nigeria that are participating in the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project, stakeholders, technocrats, international players and beneficiaries have paid glowing tributes to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his administration’s vision and steadfastness in keying into the World Bank assisted programme aimed at achieving food sufficiency and improving the livelihood of the masses especially, the women, youths and people with disabilities (PWDs) in the rural communities of the state.
In their separate goodwill messages in solidarity with Governor Ugwuanyi during the flag off of the implementation of Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) of the APPEALS project in Enugu, Rev. Fr. Prof. Monsignor Obiora Ike, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Charles Igwe, the founding Director of Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (OON), the Special Adviser to the Governor and Focal Person, World Bank/Development Partner Projects, Hon. Uche Fidelis Nnadi, the acting State Coordinator, APPEALS project, Enugu State, Mrs. Ihuoma Eze, beneficiaries, among others, lauded the governor for the successes the programme has recorded in impacting positively the lives of women, youths and people with disabilities in the rural areas.
They said that Enugu State’s effective participation in the APPEAL project is a testimony to the governor’s commitment to the wellbeing of the people and the fulfillment of his four-point agenda anchored on wealth creation and employment generation.
The stakeholders disclosed that this is the first time in the history of Nigeria where a project is targeted at the lives of people with disabilities, stressing that such an initiative is worthy of commendation.
While Prof. Ike said he joined many others from far and near to congratulate Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who he described as a peace loving leader, for the great support he gives the APPEALS project supported by the World Bank in touching the lives of many young people and the PWDs in all parts of Enugu State, Prof. Igwe (UNN) and Prof. Ezeilo (WACOL) also hailed the governor and the good people of the state for the huge and excellent initiative. Hon. Nnaji hinted that “this is the first time in the history of Nigeria where a project is targeted at touching the lives of people with disabilities, saying: “So it is a salutary development in Nigeria that we are now allowing people with disabilities to benefit; they are part and parcel of us. They are our brothers and sisters, including our wives. And this is the first programme that is targeted at them.”
In his welcome address at the flag off of the WYEP implementation performed by Governor Ugwuanyi at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, the APPEALS Project Coordinator in Enugu State, Mrs. Eze disclosed that the Enugu State government through the effective collaboration with the World Bank disbursed N3.4 billion to 1,700 women, youths and people with disabilities resident across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Mrs. Eze who revealed that each of the beneficiaries got N2milion and have been able to start businesses in agriculture in five value chains (cashew, poultry, rice, aquaculture and cassava) focusing on production, processing and marketing, added that out of the 1,700 beneficiaries, “55.8 percent are women and girls while 5 percent are persons with disabilities and special needs.”
She said that NYEP which began in Enugu State in August 2019 with a call for Expression of Interest as advertised in national dailies for eligible residents of Enugu State, had a total submission of 29,707 valid applications which were pruned down to 1,700 beneficiaries through a rigorous, competitive and transparent selection process.